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A judge has dismissed Drake's defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

Drake filed the lawsuit in January, accusing UMG, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be published and marketed, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's spokesperson stated he intended to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the result and was looking forward to continuing its work with the rapper.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of Lamar's musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the row between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the court noted.

"Although the accusation that Drake is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'the track' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an previous track, the artist had "challenged Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to win the rap battle.

"Suggest he has a preference for minors, consider that a tip," the song suggested.

"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be assessed," stated Judge Vargas.

"The similarity in the phrasing suggests strongly that this line is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Drake Graham, did not name his rival in the legal filing.

His legal team accused UMG of launching "a campaign to create a popular song" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the public should resort to extra-legal action in response".

Deciding against Drake, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "replete with vulgar language, trash-talking, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, quoting a line in which the artist "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where Drake "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be biologically his."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Even apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an listener may anticipate the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

Responding to the rejection, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their creative expression and should not have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to continuing our work effectively promoting Drake's music and supporting his artistic path," the representative continued.

A spokesperson for Drake said the rapper planned to appeal the ruling, "and we await the appellate court examining it".

Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the case.